Mark 13: Do Not Be Alarmed

A disciple admires the temple stonework. Jesus answers that not one stone will be left on another, and the chapter that follows is about wars, earthquakes and famine.

What is striking is the instruction attached to it: do not be alarmed. Not because these things are trivial, but because they are not the end and not the signal for panic.

He also says plainly that nobody knows the day, not even the Son. Every teacher who has since announced a date has contradicted the chapter they were quoting.

The command here is to keep watch, which in context means keep doing your work faithfully — not to keep scanning the news for signs.